Steve Smith and Australia make most of skipper’s absence by racing away to 299/4 on Day One.

In Ranchi Amajor setback for the Indian team seems to have been averted. Virat Kohli escaped a major shoulder injury on Day One of the third Test against Australia at the Jharkhand State Cricket Stadium. The incident happened in the in the 40th over of the day Kohli was forced to stay away from the field for the rest of the day. Peter Handscomb had hit Ravindra Jadeja, Kohli chased and dived to stop the boundary. But in the process, he fell and injured his shoulder.

He was forced to leave the field and didn’t return. Although, he was seen doing some shadow practice inside the dressing room, thanks to a good set of binoculars. He was taken for a scan at the end of the day. According to sources at the medical centre, he might have to rest for at least 10 days.

But a BCCI release read like this: “The BCCI Medical Team confirms that Indian Captain Mr. Virat Kohli is presently undergoing treatment to recuperate from a strain in his right shoulder. Relevant investigations have revealed that there are no serious concerns, which will hamper his speedy recovery from a strain in his right shoulder due to a fall while fielding on Day 1 of the third Paytm Test against Australia in Ranchi. He will continue to receive treatment, which will assist him to participate in the rest of the match.”

According to a source in the BCCI, Kohli is expected to bat at his customary position of No 4 as and when the Indian team gets to bat. But if the injury demands rest, he will be out of this match and the last Test that starts in Dharamsala from March 25.

The incident happened when Australia were 129 for 3. When the day ended they had raced to 299 for 4 with Steve Smith on 117 and Glenn Maxwell on 82. Kohli’s absence meant that vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had to take on the leadership role and it was clear that he wasn’t ready for this sudden responsibility.

Rahane found wanting

Often it seemed that Rahane wasn’t sure about the bowling or fielding changes. There were mini-conclaves before overs, involving Rahane, R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha. Kohli has often spoken about how one of his key jobs is to keep the team morale up when the chips are down.

Rahane was found wanting. As partnerships, first between Smith and Handscomb (51) and then between Smith and Maxwell (159 unbeaten) grew, the shoulders drooped and fielding errors increased. Rahane even delayed taking the second new ball for six overs and asked Murali Vijay to bowl three overs.

Australia took full advantage of the situation to post the best Day One total of the series. They started the day in the best possible manner by winning the toss and choosing to bat. Their start was crisp on a lightning fast outfield. Matt Renshaw dealt in boundaries, his first 24 runs came in boundaries while Warner, who is supposed to be more aggressive, waited for 22 ball to hit his first boundary. Fifty of their partnership came in 9.3 overs. But Warner was out soon when he played a full-toss from Jadeja straight back to him.

With the track not offering any turn, Renshaw and Smith negotiated the Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja well. Kohli was forced to bring Yadav back in search of a wicket. Yadav didn’t disappoint as he made Renshaw edge the ninth ball of his new spell to Kohli at first slip. Australia lost Shaun March soon and it was 109-3 at lunch.

But there was little luck for India in the next two session as Smith once again displayed how ugly can be beautiful. Between the two balls he faces, Smith touches each possible part of his body and there is little chance that any club coach would have allowed a batsman with a technique like him near the practice nets. But the fact is that he is effective.

There were some chants of cheater-cheater from the sparse Ranchi crowd but Smith remained unfazed. He and Hadscomb brought up 50 for the third wicket in 100 balls while Smith reached his personal 50 in 104 balls. Yadav broke this partnership with a toe-crushing yorker that would have made Waqar Younis proud when he trapped Handscomb lbw.

It was 194-4 at tea and with Maxwell playing his first Test of the series, India would have still fancied their chances but then the lights went out of their efforts. Smith reached his 100 in 187 balls and Maxwell displayed that there is more to him than a limited overs batsman.

For the next four days, one thing is sure that India will need Kohli, both as a batsman and as a leader.

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